I loved the honesty in opeth's early stuff but I think the feel was a bit too loose at times... Not bashing Martin because I do really like him and he had an influence on me. But I wouldn't call him a perfectionist. That double paradiddle between the ride and snare in deliverance always kinda stuck out like a sore thumb. But I loved that whole album.

They lost me when they put out Ghost Reveries.

Wow, see, I'm the exact opposite. I actually think Ghost Reveries was their strongest album, but it's probably worthy to note I'm more a fan of prog metal than death metal, and Ghost Reveries is definitely more the former than earlier albums.

Do you have an approx. time for what you're referring to in Deliverance? I'd like to have another listen as I always felt the drumming in that song was impeccable.